Air Methods Buys 20 Bell 407GXs, 22 Eurocopter Variants

Bell Helicopter has secured an order from HEMS provider Air Methods for 20 407GX helicopters, which feature Garmin’s G1000H avionics. Under the agreement, Air Methods division United Rotorcraft will equip the helicopters with an EMS interior—including an articulating loading system—and other medical systems like oxygen, suction air and electrical power. Bell’s partnership with Air Methods dates back to 1980 with the Bell 206.

The HEMS provider has also purchased 22 helicopters from American Eurocopter, 10 of which are the upgraded “T2” version of the EC130 that was uncovered at Heli-Expo in February 2012. The order, which also includes six copies each of the AS350B3e and EC135P2e, is valued at more than $80 million. Englewood, Colo.-based Air Methods operates a fleet of more than 330 Eurocopter variants, which make up around 80 percent of its fleet.

United Rotorcraft will also handle the completions, with American Eurocopter scheduled to start deliveries to the air medical provider in mid-2014, running through 2015.

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